Funerals, weddings and ducks - 1/07

When the kids walk home from school, they routinely take a side trip to a canal where they visit a family of ducks. Sometimes they stop at a convenience store for a snack (okay, all the time) and select a roll or bun to share with the ducks.

One day, they was happily tossing bread crumbs to the quakers when an older Japanese man approached. The ducks greeted him enthusiastically, so he must've been on a regular visitor as well. He opened a tuperware container and started tossing left-over rice. The ducks were overjoyed and gobbled up the rice instantly.
Ducks like rice! Who knew??

Another day, we were walking together and saw a house spilling over with flowers, a line cars and people dressed in black. Ohhh, a funeral. I've never attended a Japanese funeral, but I've heard that most are Buddhist. They include a wake, cremation, a burial and memorial service. Japanese funerals are the most expensive in the world; they can cost up to $40,000. Hey, plots are pretty scarce, especially in Tokyo! It is customary for attendees to bring special funeral envelopes with cash to help families defray the cost.

Cash envelopes are also expected at weddings. Guests know that the money will be used to pay for the wedding costs. This isn't a free deal for the happy couple though, because they are obligated to give their guests wedding presents!